Switch device

Abstract

A switch device ( 1 ) includes the operation knob ( 20 ) supported to be swingable relative to a substrate ( 6 ), at least a first cam surface and a second cam surface ( 23 a - 1, 23 b - 1 ) formed along the swinging direction on a substrate-facing side of the operation knob, and first and second switch contacts (Ma, Mb) disposed on the substrate corresponding to the first and second cam surfaces. At a neutral position of the operation knob, the first switch contact and the second switch contact are maintained in mutually opposite ON/OFF states by a cam action of the first cam surface and the second cam surface.

1 . A switch device, comprising:
 an operation knob supported so as to be swingable relative to a substrate;   at least first and second cam surfaces formed along a swinging direction on a substrate-facing side of the operation knob; and   first and second switch contacts disposed on the substrate corresponding to the first and second cam surfaces,   wherein, at a neutral position of the operation knob, the first switch contact and the second switch contact are maintained in mutually opposite ON/OFF states by a cam action of the first cam surface and the second cam surface.   
     
     
         2 . The switch device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first switch contact is configured to be alternately switchable between an ON or OFF position in one direction from the neutral position and an OFF or ON position in another direction from the neutral position by the cam action of the first cam surface based on a swinging motion of the operation knob, and
 wherein the second switch contact is configured to be alternately switchable between an OFF or ON position in the one direction from the neutral position and an ON or OFF position in the other direction from the neutral position by the cam action of the second cam surface based on the swinging motion of the operation knob.   
     
     
         3 . The switch device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third cam surface formed parallel to the first cam surface;   a fourth cam surface formed parallel to the second cam surface; and   third and fourth switch contacts that are disposed corresponding to the third cam surface and the fourth cam surface,   wherein, at the neutral position of the operation knob, the third switch contact and the fourth switch contact are maintained in an opposite contact state to that of the first switch contact and the second switch contact by a cam action of the third cam surface and the fourth cam surface.   
     
     
         4 . The switch device according to  claim 3 , wherein the third switch contact is configured to be alternately switchable between an ON or OFF position in one direction from the neutral position and an OFF or ON position in another direction from the neutral position by the cam action of the third cam surface based on a swinging motion of the operation knob, and
 wherein the fourth switch contact is configured to be alternately switchable between an OFF or ON position in the one direction from the neutral position and an ON or OFF position in the other direction from the neutral position by the cam action of the fourth cam surface based on the swinging motion of the operation knob.   
     
     
         5 . The switch device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second switch contacts each comprise a fixed contact arranged on the substrate and a movable contact facing the fixed contact, and
 wherein the movable contact is provided on an inner surface of an elastically deformable rubber dome that applies a force in a direction of moving the operation knob away from the substrate.   
     
     
         6 . The switch device according to  claim 5 , wherein the rubber dome is formed integrally with a rubber sheet that covers a front surface and side surfaces of the substrate. 
     
     
         7 . The switch device according to  claim 3 , wherein the third and fourth switch contacts each comprise a fixed contact arranged on the substrate and a movable contact facing the fixed contact, and
 wherein the movable contact is provided on an inner surface of an elastically deformable rubber dome that applies a force in a direction of moving the operation knob away from the substrate.   
     
     
         8 . The switch device according to  claim 7 , wherein the rubber dome is formed integrally with a rubber sheet that covers a front surface and side surfaces of the substrate.